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Common English Similes
Compiled by Leon ©2007-2008
Foreword
Dear Simile Searcher:
Unfortunately, the following list of English similes is
not comprehensive & it is not in any particular order, except in the order that they came to mind.
Some of these similes may be regional and I'm from the U.S., so, you may
want to keep that in mind.
Please notice that I've divided
the list of similes into categories of
(1) explicit similes (similes which have
explicit meanings)
(2) implicit similes (similes which have
implicit meanings)
These terms, namely 'explicit simile'
and 'implicit simile', were coined by me, Leon of Leon's EFL
Planet. Any similarity to other terms coined by others are purely
coincidental. No plagiarism was done here. I honestly do not
know if others have similar labels or not.
At the bottom, I've included a list of common
metaphorical collocations, which may appear like similes, but are not.
The most important SIMILES
you'll ever learn
"Like a Thief in the
Night"
"Like lightning"
MORE
about these similes
Table of Contents
I. Explicit Similes (as...as...)
II. Implicit Similes (like....)
III. Common Metaphorical Collocations
The Lists
EXPLICIT
SIMILES
As sly as a fox.
As quiet as a mouse.
As wise as an owl.
As clever as a fox.
As wily as a coyote.
As cute as a button.
As pretty as a picture.
As soft as a baby's behind.
As hard as a rock.
As dumb as rocks.
As brave as a lion.
As noisy as a herd of elephants.
As pure as the driven snow.
As white as the driven snow.
As black as night.
As red as a tomato.
As graceful as a swan.
As poor as a church mouse.
As slow as molasses in January.
As fast/quick as lightning.
As colorful as a rainbow.
As playful as a kitten.
As dead as a door nail.
As pale as a ghost.
As skinny as a rail.
As fat as a cow.
As hungry as a hippo.
As cool as a cat.
As sick as a dog.
As plain as day.
As fake as a three-dollar bill.
As crooked as a politician.
As happy as a lark.
As naked as a jay bird.
As blind as a bat.
As strong as a horse.
As dumb as an ox.
As tough as nails.
As harmless as a dove.
As stubborn as a mule.
As busy as a bee.
IMPLICIT SIMILES
IMPLICIT SIMILE
MEANING
eat like a bird
(eat very little)
live like a pig
(live very untidily)
eat like a pig
(eat very sloppily)
[U.S.]
like a tiger
(very aggressive)
swim like a fish
(swim very well)
eyes like a hawk
(eyes, which can see the minutest
detail, even from a great distance)
like a wolf in sheep's clothing
(cunning)
sleep like a baby
(sleep soundly)
work like the devil
(work hard)
drink like a fish
(drink a lot of
alcohol/liquor)
run around like a chicken with its head cut off
(run
around crazily)
live like a candle in the wind
(live dangerously)
lie like a sieve
(tell lies often)
take it like a man
(endure sth well)
[as opposed to take it like a little boy]
as many as the sands of the seashore
(innumerable)
like finding a needle in a haystack
(nearly impossible to
find)
sing like a bird
(sing very well)
multiply like rabbits
(have many babies)
to know ((sth)) like the
back of one's hand
(to know something very, very well)
The most important
similes you'll ever learn:
Like a thief in the night: suddenly and without
warning
Like lightning: quickly, very quickly
These similes describe the coming of the end of the world (as
we know it)
click to
learn more
The following are NOT similes, I call them:
'Common Metaphorical Collocations'
COLLOCATION
MEANING
USAGE
eagle eyes
eyes with excellent vision
nice
four eyes
a person with glasses
rude, vulgar
egg head
a person who studies too much
rude, vulgar
blockhead
a foolish person
not very nice
airhead
a stupid person
not very nice
numbskull
a stupid person
rude, vulgar usage
bird brain
a stupid person
rude, vulgar usage
lion-hearted
generous
very nice
sunny disposition
happy personality
very nice
rocket scientist
a very intelligent person
nice
sweet talk
praise given for the purpose of manipulation
neutral
silver-tongued
having eloquence
nice
forked tongue
a tongue or mouth, which speaks duplicity
insulting
butter fingers
fingers, which are clumsy
insulting
green thumb
a talent for growing plants
complimenting
black heart
wicked personality
insulting
red carpet treatment
royal treatment
neutral
blue skies
happiness
neutral, subjective to one's mood
gray skies
melancholy
neutral, subjective to one's mood
white paper
government report
neutral
For more about metaphors, click
here .
Books about Similes:
Amazon.com Widgets